Bhubaneswar: Amid the uproar over stinging observation by the Supreme Court on Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Chinese occupation of Indian territory, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday came to his brother’s defence, saying he would never speak against the Indian Army.
“With due respect to the honourable judges, they do not decide who a true Indian is. It is the duty of the Opposition Leader to question the government. My brother would never speak against the Army, he holds them in the highest respect. This is a misinterpretation,” she told ANI.
Rahul had claimed that more than 2,000 km of Indian territory had been annexed by China and the Chinese army was “thrashing” Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh during the 2022 clash. “How do you get to know that 2,000 sq km land was occupied by Chinese? If you are true Indian, you wouldn’t say such a thing,” the top court said. It further remarked, “You are Leader of Opposition. Say things in Parliament, why do you have to say it on social media?” the court had asked while staying a defamation case against him.
The SC’s observations triggered a fierce war of words between the BJP and the Congress on Monday with the latter accusing the government of following a “DDLJ” policy — “Deny, Distract, Lie, and Justify”.
The BJP, on the other hand, accused Rahul Gandhi of damaging national security and dubbed him “anti-national”.
Odisha Cong Chief Slams Justice Dipankar Datta…
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Das has also strongly objected to the stinging observation by the Supreme Court, questioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Indianness’ over his remarks on Chinese occupation of Indian territory.
Taking to his X handle, Das said, “Leader of Opposition @RahulGandhi Ji isn’t allowed to question China in Parliament. If he does it on social media, he’s asked if he’s ‘truly Indian’. Justice Dipankar Datta had no business to question Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Indianness’ for criticizing the Modi Govt’s failure on Chinese aggression. His father and grandmother sacrificed their lives for our country. What more proof of ‘Indianness’ do they seek?”